Alcohol restrictions lead to a dramatic increase in the use of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, in northern Western Australia, say community leaders.

The National Council on Drugs has toured the Pilbara, getting feedback on substance abuse issues across the region, in particular the use of ice.

The group held a council meeting in Roebourne, and then visited communities like Nullagine and Marble Bar.

Federal MP Melissa Price said ice was selling cheaper than alcohol in some parts of the Kimberley.

She said liquor restrictions have created a black market for alcohol in some areas, making methamphetamines a much cheaper option.

"You might be able to buy a bottle of scotch for $200 but you can buy a shard of ice for $15 so people are saying it's not just alcohol you've got to worry about, it's also ice," she said.

Ms Price said over the past year she has heard more and more about the drug being used within her electorate.

"We hear a lot about the use of ice, particularly in the Pilbara, and the devastating effect it has on individuals and families but also further south, especially in some of the Aboriginal communities in and around the Mid West that this is becoming an issue," she said.

The council was escorted by Professor Gary Hulse, an addiction specialist at the University of WA, who said community leaders explained why alcohol restrictions were an issue.

He said it was evident many Aboriginal communities were trying their best to keep methamphetamines out but the strict policing of liquor restrictions in places like Nullagine was driving some young people to use harder drugs.

"Young people are saying we can't carry alcohol in the community, but of course they're aware that things like ice, it's much easier to carry without being targeted by the police," he said.

"So it's really the fabric to do with liquor licensing that is likely to create the right environment for other drugs such as ice to creep in.

Professor Hulse called for the State Government to review its regime of alcohol restrictions to see if they were proving counter-productive.

"Really what we need to do is we need to listen to these people who are saying 'my relatives are starting to use up there', even if they're not seeking drug treatment services," he said.

"We need to start to put initiatives in place to prevent it from spreading in those environments and certainly spreading to environments where Aboriginal people are trying to keep it out of."